Lavandula plant named ‘IB61026’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘IB61026’, characterized by its compact and upright to slightly outwardly slanting plant habit; freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; dark purple-colored flowers with large purplish violet-colored sterile flower bracts arranged on short terminal spikes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas pedunculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IB61026’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Lavandula Plant Named ‘IB61016’Inventors: Steven Eggleton & Howard Bentley Filed: Concurrently with this application having applcation Ser. No. 17/976,778

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula stoechas pedunculata, commonly referred to as French Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IB61026’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new dense and freely-flowering Lavandula plants with attractive plant form and flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination in October, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Lavandula stoechas pedunculata identified as ‘Mini Purple’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lavandula stoechas pedunculata identified as ‘Purple Ruffles Selection 2’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, patent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia in October, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by softwood terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia since October, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IB61026’ as a new and distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright to slightly outwardly slanting plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Dark purple-colored flowers with large purplish         violet-colored sterile flower bracts arranged on short terminal         spikes.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have longer and broader sterile         flower bracts than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have darker violet purple sterile         flower bracts than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have shorter inflorescences than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have broader sterile flower         bracts than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have shorter peduncles than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of Lavandula stoechas pedunculata, ‘IB61016’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently having application Ser. No. 17/976,778, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are slightly larger than plants         of ‘IB61016’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have more flowers per         inflorescence than plants of ‘IB61016’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have longer and broader sterile         flower bracts than plants of ‘IB61016’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Blueberry Ruffles’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,305. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Blueberry Ruffles’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are upright to slightly outwardly         slanting whereas plants of ‘Blueberry Ruffles’ are upright.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Blueberry Ruffles’ differ in         sterile flower bract color as sterile flower bracts of plants of         the new Lavandula are darker purplish violet in color than         sterile flower bracts of plants of ‘Blueberry Ruffles’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have shorter peduncles than         plants of ‘Blueberry Ruffles’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of Lavandula stoechas ‘Purpleberry Ruffles’, not patented. In side by side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Purpleberry Ruffles’ differ primarily in sterile flower bract size as plants of the new Lavandula have longer and broader inflorescences than plants of ‘Purpleberry Ruffles’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavandula plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘IB61026’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 35° C. to 40° C. and night temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 35° C. Plants were six months old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas pedunculata ‘IB61026’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula             stoechas pedunculata identified as ‘Mini Purple’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula             stoechas pedunculata identified as ‘Purple Ruffles Selection             2’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal softwood vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 to 28             days at temperatures ranging from 23° C. to 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 to 40             days at temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to light             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and             upright to slightly outwardly slanting plant habit; roughly             globular to broadly ovate in overall shape; moderately             vigorous growth habit; relatively rapid growth rate; flowers             arranged in verticillasters on terminal spikes; freely             branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 15.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 18             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 21.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About eight             to ten primary lateral branches each with potentially two             secondary branches developing at every node during the             flowering season. Length: About 9.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong; flexible. Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly.             Texture and luster: Densely tomentose; slightly glossy.             Color, developing: Close to 144A to 144C. Color, developed:             Close to 144B to 144C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.             Length, largest leaves: About 3.5 cm. Width, largest leaves:             About 6.5 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Sharply acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly to moderately revolute.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely pubescent; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately to densely             pubescent; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic, pungent.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to NN137B; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 138A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform             flowers arranged in verticillasters on terminal cylindrical             spikes; freely flowering habit with about 70 to 90 flowers             developing in seven to eight whorls per inflorescence and             numerous inflorescences developing per plant during the             flowering season; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and             three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the             spike.         -   Natural flowering season.—Relatively long flowering period;             continuous from late winter to late spring/early summer in             Australia.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Inflorescences last about one             month on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Resinous, aromatic and pungent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.2 cm, excluding terminal             bracts.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.4 cm, excluding terminal             bracts.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.5 mm, including tube.         -   Flower tube length.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and             lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper and lower lips: About             0.9 mm. Width, upper and lower lips: About 1.1 mm. Shape,             upper lip: Obovate. Shape, lower lip: Ovate. Apex, upper and             lower lips: Obtuse, rounded. Margin, upper and lower lips:             Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper (inner)             surface, upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower (outer) surface,             upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower lips: When opening,             upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to NN155D             variably overlain with close to N186B. Fully opened, upper             (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to N186B to N186C;             color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of             flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract. Length:             About 1.1 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Cordate. Apex:             Cuspidate. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Translucent, close to 157D with venation, close to             143A.         -   Sterile flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About four             to six sterile flower bracts at apex of spike. Length: About             3.6 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate; ruffled             appearance. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire; undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to between 77A and 86B; main vein, close to             144A; color becoming closer to N75A and 76A with subsequent             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a             campanulate tube. Calyx length: About 7 mm. Calyx diameter:             About 3.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper (inner) and lower (outer)             surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper (inner) and             lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 143A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Mostly upright to slightly outwardly slanting.             Strength: Moderately strong to strong; flexible. Texture and             luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Anther shape: Reniform. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen             amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to N79A.             Ovary color: Close to 143A to 143B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Lavandula. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lavandula     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Lavandula plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good     garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind and temperatures     ranging from 0° C. to 42° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘IB61026’ as illustrated and described. 